Chapter 1 Key Terms

Question 1

Adaptation

Answer 1

Process in which species become structurally, physiologically and behaviorally adapted to a particular environment over time.

Question 2

Amino acid

Answer 2

small subunits whose chains make up proteins and are linked by peptide bonds, a chemical bond.

Question 3

Carbohydrate

Answer 3

Compound made of CHO and is divided into subunits made of sugars called monosaccharide (single sugar, e.g. glucose). Carbs are an important source of energy for living organisms.

Question 4

Cell theory (definition and state)

Answer 4

A theory based on microscopic and experimental studies of tissue of organisms over the last 300 years.

• All living organisms are made of cells or cell products.
• All cells come from pre-existing cells.
• A cell is the smallest living organizational unit.

Question 5

Classification

Answer 5

(scientific) hierarchy of names that includes all organisms (to allow accurate and efficient communication between scientists).

Question 6

Control group

Answer 6

A second experiment set up under the same conditions as the first, except that the independent variable is also kept constant.

Question 7

Controlled experiment

Answer 7

An experiment that allows scientists to test one variable at a time to test a hypothesis.

Question 8

Cytoplasm

Answer 8

The contents of a cell, other than the nucleus.

Question 9

Cytosol

Answer 9

The fluid component of cytoplasm, in which organelles are located.

Question 10

Dependent variable

Answer 10

What is measured when the independent variable changes.

Question 11

DNA

Answer 11

Deoxyribonucleic acid.

Genetic material in organisms

Question 12

Evolution

Answer 12

A concept that live on Earth has changed over time.

Question 13

Experimental group

Answer 13

A single variable is changed and the dependent variable is measured. Controlled (fixed) variables are kept constant.

Question 14

Hypothesis

Answer 14

A possible explanation/ educated guess based on observations that can be used to make predictions that can be tested experimentally.

Question 15

Independent variable

Answer 15

The variable that the experimenter is testing and is changed by the experimenter.

Question 16

Lipid

Answer 16

‘Fatty’ substances which are important as energy storing molecules.

Question 17

Natural selection

Answer 17

The concept that individuals with features most suited to their environment are likely to survive and produce more offspring than those with less favorable features.

Question 18

Nitrogen fixation

Answer 18

The process in which atmospheric nitrogen is trapped by certain bacteria and converted into compounds that can be used by plants.

Question 19

Nucleic acid

Answer 19

Genetic material of all organisms

Question 20

What are the two types of nucleic acids and what are their functions?

Answer 20

DNA- carried ‘instructions’ required to assemble proteins from amino acid subunits using a genetic code.
RNA- plays major role in the manufacture of protein within cells.

Question 21

Organic compound

Answer 21

Compounds with a C-H bond.

Question 22

Organism

Answer 22

An individual animal, plant of single-celled life form.

Question 23

pH

Answer 23

A measure of acidity and alkalinity.

Question 24

Phylogeny

Answer 24

The study of evolutionary relationships between organisms.

Question 25

Plasma membrane

Answer 25

Outer membrane that encloses cell organelles, and the fluid contents of a cell.

Question 26

Principle/ Theory

Answer 26

A hypothesis that is supported by many results and proves to be accurate.

Question 27

Protein

Answer 27

Thousands of different types, contains CHON and is made of amino acids.

Question 28

Scientific method

Answer 28

Experimental approach to the study of science.

Question 29

Surface tension

Answer 29

Bonds between surface molecules